Huma Tahir says society judges women for being strong, trying to lead

Notes industry now driven by going viral through negativity, with real talent lost in the chase

Actor Huma Tahir discussed how hard it is for women to speak their minds, saying that even today, when a woman is strong or outspoken, people are quick to judge her.

According to Tahir, when women become successful professionals such as doctors or engineers, people often treat them differently or say they are not feminine enough. "Our society loves to see a crying mother on screen, but when a woman tries to lead, people push her back," she said, adding that, to her, it feels as though a woman is simply not allowed to tell her truth.

Further, Tahir revealed how much pressure stars face when people constantly gossip about them. She compared this to her early days in the entertainment industry, saying that she feels things have changed for the worse.

Now, according to the actor, people try to become famous by making others angry or by spreading bad news. “The industry today is stuck on one thing: 'I have to go viral, and I have to go viral through bad things,'” she said, adding that she feels real talent is being lost in the pursuit to chase online trends.

The actor criticised the culture of toxic entitlement, where internet trolls flood actors' social media profiles with mean comments. "Today, every outfit, expression, and casual remark is picked apart for cheap online engagement," Tahir said.

Long before she ever stepped in front of the camera, Tahir built her reputation as a makeup artist and hairstylist. Entering the beauty industry during a transitional period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, she operated in an era where formal beauty institutions or film schools did not exist.

Today, she views the rise of social media and rapid technological advancements such as AI with a complex perspective. Although the tools have brought an undeniable, seamless ease to styling, she said she believes it lacks the raw, human texture born in her era's manual struggle.

Yet, despite her critiques of viral culture, Tahir maintains an immense respect for the drive of the new generation entering the field. Far from dismissing them, she labelled the youth as incredibly hardworking individuals who are navigating a far faster, highly competitive medium with remarkable hustle.